Automatic hot water recovery system
OwnerSpencer K. Hawsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat in the hot water lines of a water system is automatically recovered by providing a bridge conduit between the cold water lines and the hot water lines and by depressurizing the hot water lines relative to the cold water lines thereby to automatically direct higher pressure cold water into the hot water lines through the interconnection, which preferably is located near the hot water outlet. The higher pressure cold water forces the hot water back into the storage tank and out of the hot water lines until pressure is equalized. Loss of unused heat trapped in the hot water lines is minimized thereby saving energy.
Claims9
In a plumbing system having a first cold water inlet conduit coupled to a pressurized water main, a hot water reservoir coupled to said first cold water inlet conduit, a hot water conduit coupled between said reservoir and a first outlet means and a second cold water conduit coupled between said pressurized water main and a second outlet means, an apparatus for recovering heat in said hot water conduit to said hot water reservoir comprising:
- pressure reducing means coupled between said pressurized water main and said hot water reservoir in said first cold water conduit for establishing a pressure differential between hot water in said hot water conduit and cold water in said second cold water conduit such that the pressure in said hot water conduit is less than the pressure in said second cold water conduit;
- bridge conduit means coupling said second cold water conduit and said hot water conduit adjacent said first and second outlet means for allowing introduction of cold water into said hot water conduit;
- and wherein
- said hot water reservoir defines means including an air space for accumulating pressure such that water presssure from said cold water conduit urges water in said hot water conduit toward said hot water reservoir whenever said first outlet means is closed and water pressure in said second cold water conduit exceeds water pressure in said hot water conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.